Phalaenopsis plant named ‘MI01526’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘MI01526’, characterized by its upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit; strong flowering stems; strong and relatively small leaves; freely flowering habit with typically two inflorescences per plant, each inflorescence with numerous flowers; light yellow green-colored flowers with red purple-colored centers and labella; and good postproduction longevity and resistance to bud drop during transport.

Botanical designation: Phalaenopsis hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MI01526’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instantplant was filed by the Assignee of the instant application, MicroflorN.V. of Lochristi, Belgium on Apr. 27, 2020, application number2020/1126. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications noradvertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distributionoccurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication. Any information about the claimed plant would have beenobtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from theInventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assigneeclaim a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosureand/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior tothe effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrida, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘MI01526’.

The new Phalaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Lochristi, Belgium. The objective of thebreeding program is to develop new freely flowering Phalaenopsis plantswith good leaf shape and flowers with unique and attractive flowercoloration.

The new Phalaenopsis plant originated from a cross-pollination by theInventor in July, 2013 in Lochristi, Belgium of a proprietary selectionof Phalaenopsis hybrida identified as code number PHM00322, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofPhalaenopsis hybrida identified as code number PHM00313, not patented,as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Phalaenopsis plant wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant fromwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Lochristi, Belgium in February, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by in vitro meristempropagation in a controlled environment in Lochristi, Belgium sinceJune, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Phalaenopsisplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘MI01526’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘MI01526’ as a new and distinct Phalaenopsisplant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Strong flowering stems.    -   4. Strong and relatively small leaves.    -   5. Freely flowering habit with typically two inflorescences per        plant, each inflorescence with numerous flowers.    -   6. Light yellow green-colored flowers with red purple-colored        centers and labella.    -   7. Good postproduction longevity and resistance to bud drop        during transport.

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis differ primarily fromplants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis are more vigorous than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have larger flowers than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Phalaenopsis are light yellow        green in color with red purple-colored centers and labella        whereas flowers of plants of the female parent selection are        yellow in color with purple-colored spots.

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis differ primarily fromplants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have slightly smaller flowers        than plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Phalaenopsis are light yellow        green in color with red purple-colored centers and labella        whereas flowers of plants of the male parent selection are white        in color with yellow-colored centers and labella.

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can be compared to plants of Phalaenopsishybrida ‘Rommé’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants ofthe new Phalaenopsis differ primarily from plants of ‘Rommé’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have smaller inflorescences        than plants of ‘Rommé’.    -   2. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have inflorescences that are        typically panicles and occasionally racemes whereas plants of        ‘Rommé’ have inflorescences that are typically racemes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Phalaenopsis plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Phalaenopsis plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view ofa typical flowering plant of ‘MI01526’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of atypical flower of ‘MI01526’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the late summer in 12-cmcontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Lochristi, Belgium and undercultural practices typically used in commercial Phalaenopsis production.During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures rangedfrom 18° C. to 29° C. and light levels ranged from 150 Watt/m² to 375Watt/m². Plants were 70 weeks old when the photographs and descriptionwere taken. In the following description, color references are made toThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘MI01526’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Phalaenopsis hybrida            identified as code number PHM00322, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Phalaenopsis hybrida            identified as code number PHM00313, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By in vitro meristem propagation.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About nine to ten weeks at            temperatures about 26° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About ten to eleven weeks at            temperatures about 26° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 140 to            160 days at temperatures about 26° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 150 to            180 days at temperatures about 26° C.        -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy; typically grey green in            color, towards the apex, close to light green; actual color            of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water            quality, fertilizer, substrate temperature and age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Small amount of branching; sparse.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous epiphyte; upright            plant habit with typically two branched inflorescences per            plant, each inflorescence with numerous flowers; monopodial;            vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height, substrate level to top of foliar plane.—About            11.5 cm.        -   Plant height, substrate level to top of            inflorescences.—About 46 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 41 cm.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement and quantity.—Distichous, simple; sessile; about            six leaves per plant.        -   Length.—About 20 cm.        -   Width.—About 8.8 cm.        -   Aspect.—Outwardly arching.        -   Shape.—Elliptic to obovate.        -   Apex.—Acute, slightly unequal.        -   Base.—Sheathing.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Furrowed,            glabrous; glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Camptodromous.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C overlain            with close to 59A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Close to 137B; venation, close to 137B. Fully expanded            leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C; towards the margins,            close to 183B; venation, close to 137C.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance and flowering habit.—Showy zygomorphic flowers            arranged on axillary branched racemes or panicles; typically            two inflorescences per plant; each inflorescence with about            18 open flowers; flowers face outwardly on arching            inflorescences supported by upright peduncles; flowers with            three petals, two lateral petals and one center petal            transformed into a labellum and three sepals.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Time to flower.—Plants begin flowering about 17 weeks after            an inductive cooling period.        -   Flower longevity.—Long flowering period, individual flowers            maintain good substance for about 19.5 weeks on the plant;            flowers not persistent; plants of the new Phalaenopsis            resist bud drop during transport.        -   Inflorescence length (lowermost flower to inflorescence            apex).—About 19.5 cm.        -   Inflorescence width.—About 12 cm by 17 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Height: About 2.7 cm. Diameter: About 1.6 cm.            Shape: Ovate. Color: Close to 149B; proximally, tinged with            close to 59A.        -   Flower diameter.—About 8.8 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 5.1 cm.        -   Petals, quantity and arrangement.—Three, two lateral petals            and one center petal transformed into a labellum.        -   Lateral petals.—Length: About 4 cm. Width: About 4 cm.            Shape: Rhomboid. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture and            luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous, velvety;            matte. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface:            Close to 150D; basal spot, close to 59B; with development,            color becoming closer to 155C. When opening and fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 150D; basal spot visible            from upper surface.        -   Labella.—Appearance: Tri-lobed with two lateral lobes and a            central lobe. Length: About 2.9 cm. Width: About 1.4 cm.            Shape, lateral lobes: Obovate. Shape, central lobe:            Trullate. Apex, lateral lobes: Obtuse. Apex, central lobe:            Emarginate with two short and recurved cirrose tips.            Margins, lateral and central lobes: Entire. Texture and            luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous,            moderately velvety; matte. Callosities: Located at the base            of the labellum and attachment point of the lateral petals;            about 4 mm in length, about 3 mm in width and about 3 mm in            height. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface:            Lateral lobes: Close to 59B; distally, fading to white to            close to 12A. Central lobe: Close to 59B; distally, white            and proximally, close to 12A. Callosities: Close to 59B.            When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Lateral lobes:            Colors visible from upper surface, close to 59B; distally,            fading to white to close to 12A. Central lobe: Colors            visible from upper surface, close to 59B; distally, white            and proximally, close to 12A.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three, two lower lateral            sepals and one upper dorsal sepal. Length, lateral sepal:            About 4.3 cm. Width, lateral sepals: About 2.7 cm. Length,            dorsal sepal: About 4.7 cm. Width, dorsal sepal: About            3.1 cm. Shape, lateral and dorsal sepals: Elliptic. Apex,            lateral sepals: Broadly acute to obtuse. Apex, dorsal sepal:            Obtuse to slightly retuse. Base, lateral and dorsal sepals:            Rounded. Margin, lateral and dorsal sepals: Entire. Texture            and luster, lateral and dorsal sepals, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous, velvety; matte. Color, lateral            and dorsal sepals: When opening, upper surface: Close to            150D; basal spot, close to 59B; other random spots may            occasionally be visible. When opening, lower surface: Close            to 150B; basal spot visible from upper surface; other random            spots may occasionally be visible. Fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 155C; basal spot, close to 59B; other            random spots may occasionally be visible. Fully opened,            lower surface: Close to 150C; basal spot visible from upper            surface; other random spots may occasionally be visible.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 53 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Strength: Strong, somewhat flexible. Aspect: About 10° to            30° from vertical. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;            matte. Color: Close to 138A; fine dots, close to 200C.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 4.2 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 70° from peduncle            axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color:            Close to 150B; proximally, close to 59A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Column length: About 1 cm.            Column width: About 5 mm. Column color: Close to 155D.            Pollinia quantity: Two. Pollinia diameter (per two            pollinia): About 3 mm. Pollinia color: Close to 23A.            Gynoecium: Stigma length: About 4 mm. Stigma width: About            4 mm. Stigma shape: Reniform. Stigma color: Close to 155A.            Ovary length: About 8 mm. Ovary diameter: About 3 mm. Ovary            color: Close to 150D.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have            not been observed on plants of the new Phalaenopsis.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Phalaenopsis    has been shown to be relatively more tolerant to Fusarium spp. than    other cultivars of Phalaenopsis. To date, plants of the new    Phalaenopsis have not been shown to be resistant to pests and other    pathogens common to Phalaenopsis plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have been    observed to tolerate high temperatures of about 40° C. and suitable    for USDA Hardiness Zone 12.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘MI01526’as illustrated and described.